WATCH: Jennifer Lawrence Takes a Stand Against Fat-Shaming

Jennifer Lawrence took a stand against fat-shaming today. The young actress told Barbara Walters, "It should be illegal to call somebody 'fat' on TV."

Jennifer Lawrence took a stand against fat-shaming today. The young actress told Barbara Walters, "It should be illegal to call somebody 'fat' on TV."

Lawrence, who is part of Walters' "10 Most Fascinating People of 2013" TV special, went on to say, “The media needs to take responsibility for the effect that it has on our younger generation, on these girls that are watching these television shows, and picking up how to talk and how to be cool.”

The Academy Award-winning actress has even been on the receiving end of this fat shaming, when she was criticized for her figure in her latest box office hit, The Hunger Games: Catching Fire. Critics argued that her "womanly figure" and "lingering baby fat" did not match up with a girl who lives in an impoverished and starving district.

“In Hollywood, I’m obese,” she said to Elle magazine in December 2012. “I’m considered a fat actress.”

Lawrence’s words highlight an inherent issue in today’s society. Both men and women are given unrealistic and unhealthy notions of what constitutes as a desirable body. Rather than be promoted to strive for a healthy and constructive lifestyle (both physically and emotionally), people are often made to feel ashamed for their attributes and eccentricities.

Do you agree with Jennifer Lawrence that this fat-shaming is a problem? Why do you think that this is such a persistent issue? What steps might we as individuals be able to take to combat this?